Shabu lab trial: Calvin Tan lawyer sees bail for client

The lawyer of suspected drug financier Calvin Tan is optimistic that Regional Trial Court Judge Marilyn Yap will grant today the petition of his client to gain temporary liberty.

William delos Santos, Tan's legal counsel, said that he would be in Cebu today to follow up the resolution of his client's petition for bail.

Yap said in previous hearings that she would hand down her resolution on the petition in March. Her decision is expected today, being the last day of the month.

"I am confident that the bail petition will be granted because the evidence against my client is weak," Delos Santos said.

Tan and 11 other persons, mostly foreigners, were accused of manufacturing shabu after authorities raided on September 24, 2004 what was said to be Southeast Asia's biggest shabu laboratory.

Seized during the raid were 675 kilos of shabu worth P1.5 billion and some chemicals enough to produce 15 tons of the banned substance.

Also charged were Richard Ong and Andy Ng, who were reported to be the owners of the warehouse, located in barangay Umapad in Mandaue City, that was used as shabu laboratory by the suspects. The two temporarily gained freedom on bail.

Tan was brought to Cebu from Manila last July 20 after he was extradited from Hong Kong where he was detained for a separate drugs case. - Mitchelle P. Calipayan